Where do teens get junk food (垃圾食品)? In more than a third of the U.S. high schools, the CDC reports.
A study shows that in some states, teens find it much easier to get junk food. In Utah, for example, more than four out of five high schools sell candies and more than three out of four sell high-fat, salty snacks.
“But progress is being made,” says Howell Wechsler, director of CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. “We see quite a few states where the number of schools selling junk food in vending machines (自动售货机) is very low.”
In a study of high schools in 25 states and nine cities, the percentage of high schools selling junk food during lunch periods dropped from 53 percent in 2016 to about 37 percent in 2018. Yet there was no change in the percentage of high schools selling junk food before and after the lunch bell rang.
Why do schools sell food that harms kids’ health? Money, Wechsler says. Sales from vending machines, and snack bars come directly to schools without strings (附带条件) by state or city school systems.
Faced with increasing financial pressures, schools are tempted (诱惑) to make deals with the junk food companies. However, the success some schools have achieved set others a good example. “In some places, schools are selling healthier choices and continuing to bring in revenue (收入),” Wechsler says. “The great progress made in these states shows that changes are possible to make.”
Wechsler also says schools that replace junk food with healthy food see a drop in revenue at first but then see revenue climb back up after a year or two.
【小题1】When do schools make progress in selling less junk food?| A．Before lunch. | B．During lunchtime. | C．After lunch. | D．Over dinner. |
| A．Students prefer junk food to healthy food. | B．Students have few healthy food to choose from. |
| C．They make deals with the junk food companies. | D．They want to make more money to run the school. |
| A．be supported by their students | B．suffer a loss in revenue for the moment |
| C．be given some strings by the government | D．not make enough money to run the school |
| A．Schools sell junk food to teens. | B．Teens prefer junk food in school. |
| C．Schools care more about teens health. | D．Junk food is popular with teens at school. |
